US20100162520A1 - Caster - Google Patents
Caster Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100162520A1 US20100162520A1 US12/715,370 US71537010A US2010162520A1 US 20100162520 A1 US20100162520 A1 US 20100162520A1 US 71537010 A US71537010 A US 71537010A US 2010162520 A1 US2010162520 A1 US 2010162520A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- section
- piece
- wheel
- wheels
- outer peripheral
- Prior art date
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Links
- 0 CC(*1C2(C3)CCC4)C12C3(C)C4C1CCCC1 Chemical compound CC(*1C2(C3)CCC4)C12C3(C)C4C1CCCC1 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
- B62D55/08—Endless track units; Parts thereof
- B62D55/18—Tracks
- B62D55/24—Tracks of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts
- B62D55/244—Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
- B60B33/0002—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture
- B60B33/0005—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture characterised by mounting method
- B60B33/0007—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture characterised by mounting method by screwing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
- B60B33/0002—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture
- B60B33/0015—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture characterised by adaptations made to castor
- B60B33/0021—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors assembling to the object, e.g. furniture characterised by adaptations made to castor in the form of a mounting pin
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
- B60B33/0028—Construction of wheels; methods of assembling on axle
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
- B60B33/0047—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the rolling axle
- B60B33/0049—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the rolling axle the rolling axle being horizontal
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
- B60B33/0047—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the rolling axle
- B60B33/0057—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the rolling axle the rolling axle being offset from swivel axis
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
- B60B33/006—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the swivel mechanism
- B60B33/0065—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the swivel mechanism characterised by details of the swivel axis
- B60B33/0068—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the swivel mechanism characterised by details of the swivel axis the swivel axis being vertical
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B33/00—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors
- B60B33/006—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the swivel mechanism
- B60B33/0065—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the swivel mechanism characterised by details of the swivel axis
- B60B33/0073—Castors in general; Anti-clogging castors characterised by details of the swivel mechanism characterised by details of the swivel axis the swivel axis being symmetrical to wheel or wheels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
- B62D55/08—Endless track units; Parts thereof
- B62D55/18—Tracks
- B62D55/24—Tracks of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts
- B62D55/253—Tracks of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts having elements interconnected by one or more cables or like elements
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G5/00—Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
- A61G5/10—Parts, details or accessories
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
- B62B2301/00—Wheel arrangements; Steering; Stability; Wheel suspension
- B62B2301/25—Wheel arrangements; Steering; Stability; Wheel suspension characterised by the ground engaging elements, e.g. wheel type
- B62B2301/256—Wheel arrangements; Steering; Stability; Wheel suspension characterised by the ground engaging elements, e.g. wheel type by using endless belts
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Handcart (AREA)
- Tires In General (AREA)
Abstract
A caster of an endless structure is provided which is almost jam-proof even in the case of a bigger gap. The caster includes a first wheel supported on a mounting leg, a second wheel supported by an axle on one end of a suspension arm of which the other end is supported by an axle which also supports the first wheel, and a wrap-around member which is wrapped around the first and second wheels. The wraparound member is formed an endless belt form by connecting independent pieces to each other. The outer peripheral section of each piece is provided with a wider section and when the wraparound member is depressed and warps, the wider section is adapted to touch a wider section of the adjacent piece, thereby preventing further depression.
Description
- The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/576,610 filed on Apr. 21, 2006, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to PCT Patent Application No. PCT/JP 2004/010932 filed on Jul. 30, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a caster for use in a wheelchair, furniture, vehicle, and the like which is almost jam-proof and capable of easily climbing over a gap or obstacle.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- A caster for a wheelchair etc. comprising a pair of front and rear wheels and an endless belt wrapped around the wheels and designed to be capable of easily passing over a gap is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). A caster designed to climb stairs by tracked wheels is also known (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).
- Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-225001
- Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-3747 (see
FIG. 8 ) - When a caster with an endless belt climbs over a gap, the endless belt is pushed against the gap and depressed inward (i.e., toward the center of a space surrounded by the endless belt or a wrap-around member in the surface of rotation of the endless belt or the wrap-around member; hereinafter referred to as “inward”). The more the endless belt is depressed, the greater the power needed to pass the gap. Accordingly, in the Patent Document 1, many presser rollers are arranged inside the endless belt to prevent the belt from being depressed. However, arrangements of many rollers make a structure for holding these rollers complicated and the entire device large, increasing the weight, and thereby driving up costs.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve these problems.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, a caster is provided with first and second wheels disposed forward and back and a wrap-around member wrapped around the first and second wheels, and is characterized in that the wrap-around member consists of a plurality of pieces continuous in the circumferential direction. Each piece is provided with an outer peripheral section and an inner peripheral section which are moveable independent of the adjacent pieces, permit the wrap-around member to bend (hereinafter referred to as “inner bending” or “outer bending”) along the first and second wheels, and the outer peripheral section is adapted to contact outer peripheral sections of the adjacent pieces when the wrap-around member is pushed inside the surface of rotation by an external force, thereby preventing the wrap-around member from being depressed inside the surface of rotation.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral section of the caster is provided in such a manner that the outer peripheral sections of the adjacent pieces contact each other when they are close on a common tangent of the first and second wheels.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, each piece of the caster is independently formed and connected to the others by a connecting member in a circular form.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, each piece is provided with a tire section on the outer peripheral side and a wheel guide section into which the outer peripheral sections of the first and second wheels are fitted.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tire section and the wheel guide section are respectively formed as separate bodies.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second wheels overlap each other when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the surface of rotation.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second wheels have different diameters and a plurality of wheels with a larger diameter is provided in the direction of the axis of rotation.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wrap-around member is provided with a tire section on the outer peripheral side and a wheel guide section on the inner peripheral side, the tire section is formed of a continuous endless belt, and the wheel guide section is provided to engage each outer peripheral section of the first and second wheels and is combined with the tire section to form the piece.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wrap-around member is provided with a tire section on the outer peripheral side and a wheel guide section on the inner peripheral side, the wheel guide section being provided to engage each outer peripheral section of the first and second wheel sections and formed of a continuous endless belt, and the piece is formed by the tire section and the wheel guide section.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wrap-around member is formed of a single endless belt in its entirety and slits cut in from the outer peripheral side at the same interval in the longitudinal direction and grooves, wider than each slit, formed from the inner peripheral side at the same interval in the longitudinal direction form the piece.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first wheel is provided in such a manner that the diameter is ⅕ or less of that of the second wheel and its thickness is substantially the same as that of the second wheel, wherein the first wheel is disposed close to the outer periphery of the second wheel so that the first and second wheels are disposed on the same straight line when viewed from the direction of each thickness.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of first wheels is provided along the outer periphery of the second wheel.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, each piece is provided with a protrusion on one side of the piece in the front and rear direction and a depression on the other side thereof, wherein the protrusion of one piece is inserted into the depression of the other piece which is adjacent forward and back, thereby connecting a wall section surrounding the depression to the protrusion by a single shaft.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, a joint piece provided with pipe sections on either end of each piece in the front and rear direction is provided and each pipe section is fitted into each depression formed on the pieces which are adjacent forward and back, thereby connecting each piece to the pipe sections by a single connecting shaft.
- Effects of the invention include the following:
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wrap-around member is formed by a plurality of pieces that are connected to each other and continue in the circumferential direction. Each piece is provided with an outer peripheral section and an inner peripheral section that are moveable independent of the adjacent pieces to permit the wrap-around member to bend inward. When the wrap-around member runs over a gap, the wrap-around member is pushed against the gap from outside, depressed inward and the front and rear sections are bent outward. However, the adjacent outer peripheral sections mutually contact each other in the circumferential direction to prevent the depression from being generated. In this manner, the wrap-around member is not depressed, but is substantially straight while running over the gap. Thus, this straight section functions as an anti-sticking plate to permit the wrap-around member to climb over the gap, thereby improving the gap climbing performance.
- This depression preventing function can be realized by the structure of the wrap-around member itself and no separate presser rollers and plates are needed inside the wrap-around member. In this manner, these presser members can be made useless and there is no necessity to support these members. As a result, it is possible to provide a simple structure, make the entire device compact and lightweight, and reduce costs.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a section of the wrap-around member close on a common tangent of the first and second wheels, the outer peripheral sections of the adjacent pieces mutually contact to exhibit a depression preventing function. In this manner, it is possible to maintain a straight condition, as-is, in the section of the wrap-around member close on the common tangent which is normally straight.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, since each piece is formed independently, it is possible to easily form the wrap-around member by coupling these independent pieces together by a suitable connecting member in a ring shape. It is also possible to exchange part of the wrap-around member or adjust the length thereof.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the piece is provided with a tire section and a wheel guide section, the tire section can provide satisfactory ground contact performance, while the wheel guide section can prevent disengagement of a large diameter wheel from a small diameter wheel to provide good transmission of rotation.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the tire section and the wheel guide section are respectively formed as separate bodies, combination of the tire section with the wheel guide section can be selected such as exchange of the tire section in accordance with the intended use and as a result, it is possible to freely change the performance.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the first and second wheels are provided to overlap each other in a side view, it is possible to make the entire device compact.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the first and second wheels are provided to have different diameters and a plurality of wheels with a larger diameter is provided in the direction of the axis of rotation, it is possible to consolidate the wheel on the larger diameter side that is a load-carrying main body.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wrap-around member is provided with a tire section on the outer peripheral side and a wheel guide section on the inner peripheral side, the tire section being formed of a continuous endless belt, and the wheel guide section being connected to the tire section to form the piece. In this manner, it is possible to assemble the wrap-around member only by mounting each wheel guide section on the common tire section formed in the endless belt shape and thus make the production easy.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wrap-around member is provided with a tire section on the outer peripheral side and a wheel guide section on the inner peripheral side, the wheel guide section is formed of a continuous endless belt, and the piece is formed by the tire section and the wheel guide section. In this manner, it is possible to assemble the wrap-around member only by mounting each tire section on the common wheel guide section formed of the continuous endless belt and thus make the production easy.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wrap-around member is formed by a single member in its entirety, the peripheral section being formed by a slit cut in from the outer peripheral side, and the inner peripheral section being formed by a groove, wider than the slit on the outer peripheral side, formed from the inner peripheral side. In this manner, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, realize the simplest structure, and thus make the production easy.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first wheel of a minimum size is provided. Even though the first wheel is provided on the same line on the outer peripheral section of a second wheel, it is possible to arrange the first and second wheels without increasing the center distance. In this manner, the first wheel can be provided in the same width as the second wheel even in the axial direction. It is therefore possible not only to make the caster compact in its entirety, but also to increase an approach angle and improve the gap climbing performance.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first wheel of the minimum size is provided. A plurality of first wheels can be disposed along the outer periphery of the second wheel. In this manner, it is possible to make the caster compact and reduce each allotted load.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the piece is provided with a protrusion and a depression, it is possible to couple the adjacent pieces together by a single connecting shaft.
- According to an embodiment of the present invention, since a joint piece provided with pipes is provided, it is possible to couple the adjacent pieces and joint piece together by a single connecting shaft. It is also possible make the structure of the piece simple.
-
FIG. 1 is a side view of a caster according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a view showing the situation when the caster according to the first embodiment climbs over a gap; -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a wrap-around member according to the first embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part of the wrap-around member; -
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 7 is a view showing the assembly of the wrap-around member; -
FIG. 8 is a view showing part of the wrap-around member in the inward bent condition; -
FIG. 9 is a view showing a line of the wrap-around member in a common tangent section; -
FIG. 10 is a view similar toFIG. 1 according to a second embodiment; -
FIG. 11 is a view showing a variation according to the second embodiment; -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of one piece in the circumferential direction according to a third embodiment; -
FIG. 13 is a view showing the assembly of a wrap-around member according to the third embodiment; -
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of part of an outward inflexible area in the circumferential direction according to a fourth embodiment; -
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 ofFIG. 14 ; -
FIG. 16 is a view corresponding toFIG. 14 according to a fifth embodiment; -
FIG. 17 is a view similar toFIG. 12 according to the fifth embodiment; -
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 18-18 ofFIG. 17 ; -
FIG. 19 is a view similar toFIG. 9 according to a sixth embodiment; -
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 ofFIG. 19 ; -
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 ofFIG. 19 ; -
FIG. 22 is a view similar toFIG. 19 according to a seventh embodiment; -
FIG. 23 is a view similar toFIG. 21 according to the seventh embodiment; -
FIG. 24 is a view similar toFIG. 4 according to an eighth embodiment; -
FIG. 25 is a view similar toFIG. 9 according to the eighth embodiment; -
FIG. 26 is a view similar toFIG. 7 according to the eighth embodiment; -
FIG. 27 is a view similar toFIG. 26 showing another example according to the eighth embodiment; -
FIG. 28 is a view showing a bottom surface side of a tire section of said another example according to the eighth embodiment; -
FIG. 29 is a view similar toFIG. 26 showing still another example according to the eighth embodiment; -
FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view showing an engaging section of the example ofFIG. 29 ; -
FIG. 31 is a view similar toFIG. 29 showing still further example according to the eighth embodiment; -
FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view showing an engaging section of said example ofFIG. 31 ; -
FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing part of a wraparound member according to a ninth embodiment; -
FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 34-34 ofFIG. 33 ; -
FIG. 35 is a view showing an inward bending condition according to the ninth embodiment; -
FIG. 36 is a view similar toFIG. 34 according to a tenth embodiment; -
FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 37-37 ofFIG. 36 ; -
FIG. 38 is a view showing the assembly according to the tenth embodiment; -
FIG. 39 is a plan view of a fixed section according to an eleventh embodiment; -
FIG. 40 is a front view of the fixed section according to the eleventh embodiment; -
FIG. 41 is a left side view of the fixed section according to the eleventh embodiment; -
FIG. 42 is a right side view of the fixed section according to the eleventh embodiment; -
FIG. 43 is a side view of a caster according to a twelfth embodiment; -
FIG. 44 is a side view showing a substantial part of a driving section according to the twelfth embodiment; -
FIG. 45 is a view schematically showing the arrangement of the caster according to the twelfth embodiment; -
FIG. 46 is a side view of a caster according to a thirteenth embodiment; -
FIG. 47 is a perspective view of a piece according to a fourteenth embodiment; -
FIG. 48 is a longitudinal sectional view of the piece according to the fourteenth embodiment; -
FIG. 49 is a view showing the connecting condition of pieces according to a fifteenth embodiment; -
FIG. 50 is a view showing the assembly of the piece according to the fifteenth embodiment; -
FIG. 51 is a perspective view of a joint piece according to the fifteenth embodiment; -
FIG. 52 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 52-52 ofFIG. 49 ; -
FIG. 53 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 53-53 ofFIG. 52 ; -
FIG. 54 is a perspective view showing a variation of the joint piece; -
FIG. 55 is a perspective view showing another variation of the joint piece; -
FIG. 56 is a view showing the connecting condition of pieces according to a sixteenth embodiment; -
FIG. 57 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 57-57 ofFIG. 56 ; and -
FIG. 58 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 58-58 ofFIG. 57 . - The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
- A first embodiment of a caster of the present invention will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 through 9 .FIG. 1 is a side view of a caster,FIG. 2 is a view showing the caster climbing over a gap, andFIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 .FIG. 4 is a view showing a wrap-around member,FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing one of pieces forming the wrap-around member,FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 ofFIG. 5 ,FIG. 7 is a view showing the assembly of the wrap-around member,FIG. 8 is a view showing part of the wraparound member in the bent condition, andFIG. 9 is a view showing part of the wrap-around member in the straight condition. - Referring first to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , a caster 1 comprises a mountingleg 2, afirst wheel 3 of a small diameter supported by the mountingleg 2,second wheels 4 of a large diameter supported by the mountingleg 2, and a wrap-around member wrapped around the first andsecond wheels - The
first wheel 3 is rotatably supported by anaxle 6 on the mountingleg 2 and thesecond wheels 4 are rotatably supported by anaxle 8 on one end of asuspension arm 7 of which the other end is coaxially supported by theaxle 6 on the mountingleg 2 together with thefirst wheel 3. - The
suspension arm 7 is a cantilevered member extending from the mountingleg 2 in a substantially horizontal position. Provided between the vicinity of theaxle 6 of thesuspension arm 7 and the mountingleg 2 is asuspension spring 9 which is adapted to absorb the vertical movement of thesecond wheels 4 due to the unevenness of the road surface. Thesuspension arm 7 can be a coil spring or various known springs made of metal, rubber or the like. - The
first wheel 3 and thesecond wheels 4 are respectively made of suitable material such as metal or plastic and are provided to overlap in a side view as shown in the figures to make the caster 1 compact. - The caster 1 excels in performance when climbing over a
gap 10 such as unevenness or stairs and can easily climb over even thegap 10 of which the height H is larger than the radius of thesecond wheels 4. This will be described later. - The mounting
leg 2 is attached to amember 13 to be attached to a device such as a wheelchair by an upward projectingscrew 12 through a joint 11. Thescrew 12 and the mountingleg 2 are provided to rotate around the axis line of thescrew 12 by the joint 11. In other words, the caster 1 is freely rotatable type with the suspension. -
Reference numerals tension adjustment mechanism 15 for optimizing the tension of thewraparound member 5 by adjusting the position of the axle 8 (seeFIG. 2 ). - As shown in
FIG. 3 , the mountingleg 2 is formed with a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section and theaxle 6 is provided to bridge the vertical sections of the U. Each end of theaxle 6 is fixed by acap section 6 a and a fixing means 6 b such as a nut so that it does not drop out. The fixing means 6 b can be a split pin or the like. - The
first wheel 3 is rotatably supported on the center of theaxle 6 in the longitudinal direction through abearing 16 and positioned by the right and leftwashers collars axle 6. - The bearing 16 can be selected from various types of bearings such as a ball bearing, a needle bearing and a metal bearing. However, a collar can be used for the bearing depending on the circumstances. In this case, the
first wheel 3 is positioned on the collar using an E-shaped clip. - Rotatably supported on each end of the
axle 6 throughcollars suspension arm 7 of a substantially U-shape of which the right and left sides are integrally formed. Thecollars axle 6 between the mountingleg 2 and thecollar 18 and thesuspension arm 7 is positioned on theaxle 6 in the axial direction by a flange section of thecollar 18 and the E-shaped clip. - The
second wheels 4 are provided as a pair to sandwich thefirst wheel 3 and have a dual wheel structure which can withstand a large load. The supporting structure of the right and leftsecond wheels first wheel 3 and bothwheels axle 8 throughbearings bearings central collar 22, right and leftwashers collars bearings cap section 8 a of theaxle 8 on one side and a fixing means 8 b such as a nut on the other side. - The wrap-around
member 5 consists of manyindependent pieces 25 which can be connected continuously in the circumferential direction and is formed of a ring or belt in its entirety. “Independent pieces 25” means that eachpiece 25 is in such a condition as to be capable of making a movement different from the adjacent piece on the outer and inner peripheral sides of the wrap-aroundmember 5. In this case, eachpiece 25 can be an independent piece or part of an integral body. - The
piece 25 is provided with atire section 26 adapted to serve as a ground contact section and awheel guide section 27 for supporting thetire section 26. Thewheel guide section 27 is a comparatively rigid member made of plastic, metal or the like. As closely shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 , thewheel guide section 27 is integrally formed with a pair ofsidewalls 28 for supporting both sides of thetire section 26 and a connectingsection 29 for coupling them together to support the bottom surface of thetire section 26. - The
wheel guide section 27 is further provided with a pair ofguide walls sidewalls section 29. Formed at certain intervals between theseguide walls ribs section 29. Aguide groove 32 a is formed between the pair ofribs first wheel 3 is fitted into thisgroove 32 a. - Further, formed between the
guide walls 30 facing eachrib 31 is aguide groove 32 b into which the outer peripheral section of thesecond wheel 4 is fitted. Theguide groove 32 b is formed in pairs on both sides of theguide groove 32 a and corresponds to the right and leftsecond wheels wraparound member 5. - A connecting
hole 33 penetrating thewheel guide section 27 in the circumferential direction of the mountingleg 2 within the thickness of the connectingsection 29 continuing perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation of the wheel is provided. A connectingmember 34 made of a resinous cord such as Nylon and Kevlar or a metal wire such as a piano wire is inserted into the connectinghole 33. The number of connectingholes 33 is arbitrary. The connecting holes are formed on both ends in the figure, but the number of holes can be selectively set, wherein even one, three or four holes are acceptable in accordance with the intended use. - As shown in
FIGS. 4 through 8 , the wrap-aroundmember 5 according to the present embodiment consists of manyindependent pieces 25 which are continuous in the circumferential direction and are connected by the connectingmember 34. The wrap-aroundmember 5 is formed of a ring or a belt continuous in the circumferential direction. As shown inFIG. 4 , the wrap-aroundmember 5 is provided to bend along the outer periphery of the first andsecond wheels member 5 can bend inward, but it becomes straight on the common tangents C1 and C2. As described later, the part of the wrap-aroundmember 5 in the straight condition becomes an outward inflexible area A (seeFIG. 4 ) where the inward depression D as shown by an imaginary (virtual) line is prevented. - The connecting
member 34 is not limited to the linear member as stated above, but can be selected from the various shapes. For example, as shown by an imaginary line inFIGS. 6 and 7 , it can be asheet belt 34 a in which a cloth such as Kevlar or a belt-shaped member made of adequate metal is formed in a ring shape. If thissheet belt 34 a is put on the connectingsection 29 and coupled together by adhesive bonding etc., then thetire section 26 is fitted between the connectingsection 29 and theside walls 28 for integration, eachpiece 25 can be connected in the ring shape by thesheet belt 34 a. In this case, since the connectinghole 33 can be omitted, it is possible to make the connection of eachpiece 25 simple and fast. - As shown in
FIGS. 5 , 8 and 9, theguide wall 30 of thewheel guide section 27 is provided in such a manner that both ends in the circumferential direction are inclined toward the inner peripheral side to approach each other, thereby forming aninclined surface section 35. Theguide wall 30 is therefore provided on the inward tip side with a tapered narrow section relative to thesidewall 28. On the other hand, thesidewall 28 of theguide wall 30 on the outer peripheral side has a wide section having the same width as the maximum width of theguide wall 30. Further, theinclined surface sections adjacent pieces member 5. Eachrib 31 also has the same shape as theguide wall 30. - Each end of the
sidewall 28 in the circumferential direction is provided with a contactingsection 36 of a linear shape running parallel to each other. As shown inFIG. 9 , when the wrap-aroundmember 5 is in a straight condition, this section is provided in such a manner that the facing contactingsections wheel guide sections wraparound member 5 from further bending outwards to warp. In this manner, this contactingsection 36 serves as a warp preventing contacting section and thus, the contactingsections wheel guide section 27 on the right and left sides function in the same manner. - The
tire section 26 of a block shape made of comparatively soft material such as rubber is fitted between the right and leftsidewalls tire section 26 in the front and rear direction (the circumferential direction of thewraparound member 5 is hereinafter referred to as “the front and rear direction”) are flat surfaces parallel to each other and serve as the warp preventing contacting section in the same manner as the right and left contactingsections 36 of thewheel guide section 27. The outerperipheral section 38 of thetire section 26 is chamfered on the right and left sides of the outer peripheral section and serves as a section for contacting the ground as the tire section for the caster 1. - As shown in
FIG. 7 , thepiece 25 is made in such a manner that thewheel guide section 27 and thetire section 26 are respectively made in advance as separate bodies and thetire section 26 is fitted between thesidewalls 28 of which the right and left sides are facing and then secured on the inner surfaces of thesidewalls 28 and thecross section 29 by adhesive bonding etc. In this case, the side surfaces 37 of thetire section 26 in the front and rear direction are flush with the contactingsections 36 of the sidewalls 28 as shown in the side surface of the installation condition (seeFIG. 7 ). - As shown in
FIG. 8 , in the case where the wrap-aroundmember 5 bends on the inner peripheral side, theadjacent pieces 25 can freely bend without causing interference with each other because the side surface of theguide wall 30 is provided with theinclined surface section 35.Reference numerals adjacent pieces 25. As shown by thereference numeral 39 a, one hole can be formed between theadjacent guide walls guide wall 30. -
FIG. 9 shows a line of thepiece 25 on the common tangent section and eachpiece 25 is horizontally arranged in a substantially straight condition on the common tangents C1 and C2 (seeFIG. 4 ). In the strict sense, this line is formed in a very large radius. If the vertical ends of eachpiece 25, for example, the inner peripheral ends of theguide wall 30 are lined up along this radius, the contactingsections side wall 28 in theadjacent pieces tire section 26 in the front and rear direction contact each other to prevent warping. Thus, this makes the inward bending of the wrap-aroundmember 5 impossible as shown by an imaginary (virtual) line inFIGS. 2 and 4 , thereby preventing the depression or outward bending. - In other words, the wrap-around
member 5 only permits the substantially straight line condition in which thetire section 26 forming the outer peripheral section of eachpiece 25 and thesidewall 28 of thewheel guide section 27 as shown inFIG. 9 contact each other and the condition in which theadjacent tire sections sidewalls piece 25 open to permit the wrap-aroundmember 5 to bend on the inner peripheral side in its entirety as shown inFIG. 8 , thereby making warping, in which one part of thewraparound member 5 is depressed inwards and the other part in the front and rear relation bends on the outer peripheral side, impossible. - Since a section of the wrap-around
member 5 corresponding to the lower common tangent section C2 is an area in which the outward bending is prevented even in the case of contacting thegap 10, this section is referred to as an outward inflexible area A. This outward inflexible area A is formed of the large radius which forms part of an imaginary wheel W. This imaginary wheel W is an imaginary circle with an extremely large diameter having a radius common with the large radius that is almost a straight line. In the case where the caster 1 passes the gap, this imaginary wheel W is regarded as the caster 1 and it is possible to consider this a condition substantially the same as that the imaginary wheel W climbing over thegap 10. - The operation of this condition will now be described.
FIG. 1 is a normal condition before passing the gap in which the mountingleg 2 is pushed up by means of thesuspension spring 9, theaxle 6 is provided in a higher position than theaxle 8, and the outward inflexible area A of thewraparound member 5 corresponding to the common tangent section contacts thegap 10. An approach angle alpha which is the angle at which this area contacts the gap is also a ground surface angle. - In this condition, if the caster 1 advances toward the
gap 10, the side of theaxle 8 of thesuspension arm 7 swings in the clockwise direction ofFIG. 2 because the outward inflexible area A contacting thegap 10 does not bend outwards. As a result, thesecond wheel 4 leaves the ground against thesuspension spring 9 and the caster 1 climbs over thegap 10 in this condition. - In this case, the outward inflexible area A changes position in accordance with the swing of the
suspension arm 7 and the approach angle beta is smaller (alpha beta). Accordingly, when the wheel weight w of the outward inflexible area A contacting thegap 10 is converted to a horizontal force F and a tangential force f, the horizontal force F serving as an impelling force becomes larger as the approach angle changes from alpha to.crclbar. and the common tangent C2 also changes position down. In this manner, the caster 1 can climb over thegap 10 with smaller power to provide a good climbing performance, thereby improving the gap climbing performance. - This means that the caster 1 can lightly climb over the gap which became relatively small with less power because the area of the
wraparound member 5 contacting the gap becomes a very large radius, the imaginary wheel W using the R as part of the outer diameter becomes extremely large, and the gap is traversed by such a huge imaginary wheel W. If thesuspension arm 7 swings as shown inFIG. 2 , the imaginary wheel W assumes in such a condition as to climb over the gap which is further lowered and as a result, the climbing performance improves further. - This gap climbing is possible until the height H of the
gap 10 reaches the higher limit position of the outward inflexible area A. In other words, the caster can climb over the gap up to a height close to theaxle 6 of thefirst wheel 3 and shows excellent climbing performance compared to a conventional endless belt. Further, in the present embodiment, theaxle 6 is provided in a higher position than theaxle 8 and thefirst wheel 3 of a smaller diameter is provided to increase the ground surface angle alpha of the common tangent C2 in the normal condition. In this manner, it is possible to increase an angle of attack against thegap 10 and make the gap climbing easy. - As described above, many
independent pieces 25 are coupled together in the circumferential direction to form the wrap-aroundmember 5. Eachpiece 25 is provided with an outer peripheral section and an inner peripheral section adapted to be moveable independent of theadjacent pieces 25 by thetire section 26 and thewheel guide section 27. Provision of the outer peripheral section and the inner peripheral section makes inward bending of the wrap-aroundmember 5 possible and prevents the wrap-aroundmember 5 from warping, thereby preventing generation of the partial depression D thereof when climbing over the gap. In this manner, since the common tangent section C2 of the wrap-aroundmember 5 can maintain the substantially straight condition when climbing the gap, it serves as an anti-sticking plate. With this arrangement, the wrap-aroundmember 5 can smoothly climb over thegap 10 and the gap climbing performance improves. - Further, since this warp preventing function can be realized by the structure of the wrap-around
member 5 itself, there is no necessity to provide separate presser rollers and presser plates inside the wrap-aroundmember 5. In this manner, it is neither necessary to provide these presser members nor to support them. As a result, it is possible to make the structure simple, make the caster compact in its entirety to save weight, and reduce the costs. - Still further, in the area of the wrap-around
member 5 close on the common tangents C1 and C2 of the first and second wheels, the outer peripheral sections of theadjacent pieces 25 contact each other to exhibit the warp preventing function. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain the substantially straight condition as-is in the area close on the common tangents C1 and C2 where there is normally a straight condition. However, since the lower common tangent C2 affects the gap climbing performance, the following description will be made only regarding the common tangent C2. - Since each
piece 25 is independently formed, it is possible to easily fabricate the wrap-aroundmember 5 by coupling thesepieces 25 together by a suitable connectingmember 34 in a ring shape. It is also possible to partially exchange thepieces 25 and adjust the length of the wrap-aroundmember 5. - Since the
piece 25 is provided with thetire section 26 and thewheel guide section 27, a good ground contact performance can be secured by thetire section 26 and the disengagement of thefirst wheel 3 fromsecond wheel 4 can be prevented by thewheel guide section 27 to secure satisfactory transmission of rotation. - Further, since the
tire section 26 is separately formed from thewheel guide section 27, it is possible to provide a free combination of thetire section 26 with thewheel guide section 27 such as the exchange of thetire section 26 in accordance with the intended use and thus freely change the performance. - Since the first and
second wheels second wheels second wheels 4 of a larger diameter is provided in the direction of the rotational axis, it is possible to consolidate thesecond wheel 4 of the larger diameter which serves as a main body for supporting a load. - Further, since the
second wheel 4 is provided with a suspension mechanism, smooth gap mounting can be realized. Since the direction can also be freely changed, it is possible to easily pass over the gap even in this respect. Still further, since the direction can be freely changed, running becomes easier. - A second embodiment will now be described hereunder.
FIGS. 10 and 11 are side views of a caster of a simplified type without a suspension. In the case ofFIG. 10 , afirst wheel 3 is supported by anaxle 6 at the intermediate section of aside surface 2 a of a mountingleg 2 with a substantially C-shaped cross-section, while asecond wheel 4 is supported by anaxle 8 at the tip of the mountingleg 2 which extends to the lower left. Other structures, thefirst wheel 3, thesecond wheel 4 and thewraparound member 5 are the same as above or can be combined with various embodiments described below regarding the wrap-aroundmember 5. - In this manner, by omitting the suspension, the first and
second wheels mounting leg 2. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and provide a simplified structure. According to this type, an angle between the line drawn from theaxle 6 to theaxle 8 and a horizontal line is comparatively large and the position of theaxle 6 is considerably higher than that of theaxle 8. Accordingly, the caster of this type is suitable for use in a shopping cart for physically unimpaired people which requires comparatively large power, but is capable of climbing over a large gap. -
FIG. 11 also shows a rigid type caster, but in this case, the mountingleg 2 is made of abent pipe member 2 b. Thesecond wheel 4 is supported by theaxle 8 on the tip of abent section 2 c of thepipe member 2 b, while thefirst wheel 3 is supported by theaxle 6 on abracket 2 d which projects backwards from thebent section 2 c. According to this type, it is also possible to provide a further simplified structure. In addition, theaxle 6 is situated close by and substantially at the same level as theaxle 8 and an angle between the line from theaxle 6 and theaxle 8 and the horizontal line is extremely small. Accordingly, the caster of this type is suitable for use in a wheelchair for physically handicapped or aged people which can climb over a gap of a certain size with the smallest possible amount of power. - In the case of either
FIG. 10 or 11, since the ground surface angle of the outward inflexible area A is constant, the angle is determined by setting the mounting position of theaxles axle 6 is lowered, the gap climbing performance improves because the approach angle alpha becomes small. If the mounting position of theaxle 6 is set by manual adjustment or power assisted through a worm gear and the like in the vertical direction and the like of the figure, the approach angle can be more freely set. Mechanism for changing direction can be freely selected for each type. -
FIGS. 12 and 13 show a third embodiment. This and the following embodiments relate to variations of the wrap-aroundmember 5 in the structure. These variations can be selectively combined for the caster 1 of the types in various embodiments described above. -
FIG. 12 shows a cross-section of onepiece 25 in the circumferential direction andFIG. 13 shows its assembling method. Awheel guide section 27 in this embodiment is integrally formed with a box-shapedsecuring section 40. The boxtype securing section 40 opens upwards in the figure and the lower half side of thetire section 26 is fitted into thisopening section 41. - The side of the
tire section 26 in the front and rear direction is formed with astep 37 a which is lowered into the box-shapedsecuring section 40 according to the thickness. When combined, thisstep 37 a is fitted into the box-shapedsecuring section 40 and the lower end of anupper section 37 b is combined with the open end of the box-shapedsecuring section 40 so that theupper section 37 b is flush with the front andrear sides 42 of the box-shaped securing section 40 (seeFIG. 12 ). - The other structures of the
wheel guide section 27 on the side ofguide grooves tire section 26 can be positioned only by fitting it into theopen section 41 of the box-shapedsecuring section 40. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent thetire section 26 from coming loose to maintain the outer diameter of the imaginary wheel. Also, since the front andrear sides 42 of the adjacent box-shapedsecuring sections 40 contact each other, it is further possible to positively maintain the outer diameter. It is also possible to make assembling easy. -
FIGS. 14 and 15 show a fourth embodiment.FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of part of the wrap-aroundmember 5 in an outward inflexible area A in the circumferential direction andFIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 ofFIG. 14 . Thewheel guide section 27 according to the present embodiment corresponds to a structure in which the section above the connectingsection 29 of the wheel guide section in each of the foregoing embodiments is omitted, wherein the lower surface of thetire section 26 of which the thickness in the height direction is reduced is combined with the upper surface of the connectingsection 29, of which the thickness in the height direction is increased, by adhesive bonding and the like for integration. In this manner, it is possible to provide the most simplifiedwheel guide section 27. - A fifth embodiment will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 16 through 18 .FIG. 16 is a view corresponding toFIG. 14 ,FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of onepiece 25 in the circumferential direction, andFIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 18-18 ofFIG. 17 . In this example, thepiece 15 is made of the same material such as hard rubber and metal in its entirety, wherein a wheel guide section is integrally formed with a tire section. In this case, the outer peripheral side of thepiece 25 is atire section 26, the inner peripheral side thereof is awheel guide section 27, and the intermediate section between them corresponds to a connecting section. Aninclined section 35 and a contactingsection 36, a connecting structure using a connectinghole 33 and a connectingmember 34, and a wheel guide structure are the same as above. In this manner, it is possible to provide thepiece 25 with the most simplified structure. -
FIGS. 19 through 21 relate to a sixth embodiment.FIG. 19 is a view showing a partial side of the outward inflexible area A,FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 ofFIG. 19 , andFIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 ofFIG. 19 . In this example, eachpiece 25 is also made of the same material, but provided with, for example,protrusions 43 protruding on the right and left sides. Theseprotrusions 43 are superimposed ondepressions 45 formed on the rear section of the side of the front andrear pieces 25 to allow aneyehole 44 to correspond to a through-hole 46 on the side of thedepression 45 and coupled by anaxle 47. In this case, aninclined section 35 having an inclined surface provided in pairs in the foregoing embodiments is provided only on one side and the other side is provided with a substantiallyvertical notch section 35 a which serves as a clearance section to avoid interference with theinclined section 35 of theadjacent piece 25 when bent inward. - In this manner, it is possible to assemble the
wraparound member 5 by interconnecting theadjacent pieces 25 as seen in the conventional metal chain and omit the connection by the ring shaped connectingmember 34 such as resin cord and metal wire as seen in each of the foregoing embodiments. It is to be noted that this connecting method can be applied to each type of the foregoing embodiments in place of the connectingmember 34. -
FIGS. 22 and 23 show a seventh embodiment having a similar connecting method to the above.FIG. 22 is a view corresponding toFIG. 19 andFIG. 23 is a view corresponding toFIG. 21 . In this example, a connectingplate 48 is provided to bridge theadjacent pieces 25 and is connected by a connectingshaft 49 inserted into a through-hole 46. The upper end of theinclined section 35 is provided with astep 35 b which is cut into the body section of thepiece 25 to provide a wide groove which serves as a clearance section between the facinginclined section inclined sections 35 of theadjacent pieces 25 when bent inwards. In this case, since thepiece 25 can be made in a symmetric figure including the front and rear direction, assembly can be made even though thepieces 25 are exchanged in the front and rear direction. This example can also be applied to each type of the foregoing embodiments. -
FIGS. 24 through 32 relate to an eighth embodiment, in which a piece is made separately from a tire section and composed of a wheel guide section provided withsidewalls 28 which are coupled with the tire section. The tire section is formed of an endless belt.FIG. 24 is a side view showing awraparound member 5 in its entirety,FIG. 25 is view showing part of an outward inflexible area A, andFIG. 26 is a view showing an assembling method. In this example, the tire section is formed of the continuingendless belt 50. Theendless belt 50 is made of a suitable material such as rubber and eachpiece 25 is mounted in order on the side of the endless belt in the longitudinal direction. - Each
piece 25 is formed independently and for example, the structure similar to thewheel guide section 27 in the first embodiment can be used. As shown inFIG. 26 , thesides 51 of theendless belt 50 in the width direction and thebottom surface 52 are inserted between the sidewalls 28 and secured to the inner surface of thesidewalls 28 and the upper surface of across section 29 by means of adhesive bonding or the like. In this case, thepiece 25 is composed only of thewheel guide section 27 which is made separate from theendless belt 50 and the outer peripheral section having a warp preventing function consists of thecross section 29 and thesidewalls 28 of thewheel guide section 27. - The inner peripheral section of the
piece 25 consists ofguide walls 30 andribs 31 of thewheel guide section 27. To facilitate bending of the outer peripheral section during inward bending, for example, theendless belt 50 can be formed of a laminated structure in which the material becomes softer on the outer peripheral side to make the elongation of the outer peripheral side easy. It is also possible to provide a slit on the outer peripheral side. - Further, as shown in
FIG. 27 , thewheel guide section 27 with a box-shapedsecuring section 40 in the third embodiment can also be used as thepiece 25. The bottom surface side of theendless belt 50 is shown inFIG. 28 . In this case, abottom surface 52 is integrally formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction with aprotrusion 53 adapted to closely fit into anopening section 41. Theprotrusion 53 is fitted into theopening section 41 for integration. The structure of thepiece 25 in this case is the same as inFIGS. 25 and 26 and the outer peripheral section having the warp preventing function corresponds to the box-shapedsecuring section 40 of thewheel guide section 27, wherein the front andrear sides 24 of the box-shapedsecuring section 40 contact the front andrear sides 42 of the adjacent box-shapedsecuring section 40 in their entirety. - This arrangement makes positioning of the
wheel guide section 27 easy. Since assembly can be realized only by mounting thewheel guide section 27 on the commonendless belt 50, assembly and production become easy. According to this example, in the outward inflexible area A, only the contacting sections 36 (FIG. 26 ) or the front and rear sides 42 (FIG. 27 ) of the adjacentwheel guide section 27 come into contact, but even these sections can fully prevent the outward bending of thewraparound member 5. As described inFIGS. 12 and 13 , the warp preventing function can be positively exhibited if thewheel guide section 27 is provided with the box-shapedsecuring section 40. -
FIGS. 29 through 32 show that mounting of thewheel guide section 27 on theendless belt 50 is done by engagement. Referring toFIGS. 29 and 30 , theside surface 51 of theendless belt 50 in the width direction is formed with an engaginggroove 54 which continues in the longitudinal direction, while the end of thesidewall 28 of thewheel guide section 27 is formed with aclaw 55 which projects inwards. Thus, theclaw 55 engages the engaginggroove 54 for integration.FIG. 29 shows an assembling method andFIG. 30 shows a cross-section of the engaging condition. -
FIGS. 31 and 32 show that the inner surface ofsidewall 28 of thewheel guide section 27 is formed with an engagingprotrusion 56 in place of theclaw 55.FIG. 31 is a view corresponding toFIG. 29 andFIG. 32 is a view corresponding toFIG. 30 . With this arrangement, it is possible to mount thewheel guide section 27 on theendless belt 50 through a one-touch operation. - In place of the engaging
groove 54 which is an object to be engaged by theclaw 55 and the engagingprotrusion 56, an engaging hole can be provided on theside 51 of theendless belt 50 in the width direction at even intervals in the longitudinal direction. Such an engaging structure can also be applied to assembly of thetire section 26 with thewheel guide section 27 in the case where thepiece 25 is independently provided. -
FIGS. 33 through 35 relate to a ninth embodiment in which awraparound member 5 is formed of a continuingendless belt 60 in its entirety and eachpiece 25 is integrally formed in one stretch. In this example, the outer peripheral section of theendless belt 60 serves as atire section 61 and the inner peripheral section thereof serves as awheel guide section 62. Thewheel guide section 62 having wave-form irregularities in the side view is integrally formed with aguide groove 63 and aguide wall 64 in the width direction. Further, the side surface of theguide wall 64 of thewheel guide section 62 in the front and rear direction is provided with aninclined section 65. A substantially triangular section in the side view is formed between theinclined sections 65 facing side-by-side, wherein eachwheel guide section 62 is partitioned by thesection 66. - Further, the
tire section 61 on the outer peripheral side is provided with aslit 68 in the vertical direction toward a connectingsection 67 on the intermediate side. Theslit 68 is formed at even intervals in the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral section of the wrap-aroundmember 5. A section sandwiched by theadjacent slit 68 andsection 66 forms onepiece 25 and eachpiece 25 is integrally and continuously formed with the others by the connectingsection 67. The width of theslit 68 is small and the sides facing on both ends of theslits 68 of eachpiece 25 contact the next to exhibit the warp preventing function. In this manner, the outward bending as shown inFIG. 34 is not permitted and the inward bending of the wrap-aroundmember 5 as shown inFIG. 35 is permitted. - In this manner, the
wraparound member 5 can be formed in its entirety by a single member having manycontinuous pieces 25 and the outer peripheral section of thepiece 25 is formed between the slits by the slits cut in from the outer peripheral side, and this section can permit the warp prevention and inward bending of thewraparound member 5. Formed between thesection 66 wider than theslit 68 on the outer peripheral side is the inner peripheral section of thepiece 25 formed on the inner peripheral side which can permit the inward bending of thewraparound member 5. In this manner, it is possible to reduce the number of parts forming thewraparound member 5, provide the simplest structure, and make the production easy. - A tenth embodiment will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 36 through 38 . In this embodiment, awheel guide section 70 is formed of a continuous belt and is provided with aguide wall 71 and aninclined section 72 at even intervals in the longitudinal direction. Formed between theinclined sections 72 facing side-by-side is agroove 72 a which is substantially triangular in the side view. Eachwheel guide section 70 is divided by thisgroove 72 a. Aguide groove 73 and arib 74 are integrally formed between the right andleft guide walls 71 of thewheel guide section 70 in the width direction. - An upward projecting mounting
block 76 is integrally formed on a connectingsection 75 of thewheel guide section 70 at even intervals in the longitudinal direction. Atire block 77 is provided to cover the mountingblock 76. Thetire block 77 is provided with adownward opening space 78 formed on the thick section. The mountingblock 76 is fitted into and integrated with the downward opening space by means of adhesive bonding and the like. - The front and
rear sides 79 of eachtire block 77 are warp preventing sections which contact each other at the outward inflexible area A. With this arrangement, since thewheel guide section 70 can be formed with an endless belt shape, thewraparound member 5 can be assembled only by mounting eachtire block 77 on the commonwheel guide section 70. Thus, assembly and production of thewraparound member 5 become simple. - However, by reversing the fitting relationship of the
tire block 77 to thewheel guide section 70, a box-shaped structure similar to the securingsection 40 shown inFIGS. 12 and 13 can be integrally formed on the side of thewheel guide section 70 and the end of thetire block 77 on the inner peripheral side can be fitted into the box-shaped structure. In this case, the front and rear sides of the box-shaped structure become the contacting sections to exhibit the warp preventing function. - An eleventh embodiment will be described with reference to
FIGS. 39 through 42 . This embodiment shows variations of the third embodiment (seeFIGS. 12 and 13 ).FIG. 39 is a plan view of a securing section,FIG. 40 is a front view,FIG. 41 is a left side view, andFIG. 42 is a right side view. - In these figures, a plurality of
first protrusions 43 a is provided, eachprotrusion 43 a projecting from one surface of a connectingsection 29 at certain intervals and coaxially provided with through-holes 44 a (seeFIG. 42 ).Second protrusions 43 b integrally projecting from the other surface of the connectingsection 29 on the opposite side are fitted between the adjacentfirst protrusions 43 a and coaxially provided with through-holes 44 b (seeFIG. 41 ). - In the
adjacent pieces 25, if thefirst protrusions 43 a and thesecond protrusions 43 b are alternately fitted between one another and the through-holes shafts 47, the first and second protrusions can be coupled together. Even in this example, only one connectingshaft 47 is necessary for onepiece 25. Further, formed on the upper surface of the securingsection 40 at certain intervals is a plurality ofopenings 41 into which a mountingleg 37 a for atire section 26 is fitted. -
FIGS. 43 through 45 show a twelfth embodiment. The present and subsequent embodiments are different from a caster of a dual wheel type in which a plurality of first wheels is arranged in the axial direction to sandwich the second wheel therebetween and relate to a caster of a single wheel type in which a single wheel is arranged in the axial direction. Accordingly, description will be made using different reference numerals. In the present embodiment, acaster 100 having the same wraparound member as in the first embodiment is provided, in which afirst wheel 103 is reduced in size to make the caster compact in its entirety.FIG. 43 is a general view,FIG. 44 is a view showing only a driving section, andFIG. 45 is a view schematically showing the arrangement of each wheel. - In this example, a plurality of minimized
first wheels 103 is arranged in the vicinity of the outer periphery of asecond wheel 104 and supported by anaxle 106 on a mountingleg 102. Eachfirst wheel 103 is provided to be moveable within along hole 110 formed on the side of the mountingleg 102 and the position thereof is simultaneously adjustable by atension control member 111. Thefirst wheel 103 has a diameter of ⅕ or less, preferably of about 1/10 compared to that of thesecond wheel 104. - As shown in
FIG. 45 , the width of thefirst wheel 103 in the thickness direction is almost the same as that of thesecond wheel 104 and each wheel is collinearly disposed forward and back when viewed from the width direction. The number of thefirst wheels 103 is arbitrary and set to withstand the load required for the intended use. With this arrangement, it is possible to make the width direction narrower because it is not necessary to provide a plurality offirst wheels 103 at certain intervals in the axial direction of thesecond wheel 104 to sandwich thesecond wheel 104 therebetween as shown in the example ofFIG. 3 . - By making the first wheel 103 a minimum size, it is possible to provide the
first wheel 103 in the vicinity of the outer periphery of thesecond wheel 104, thereby reducing the center distance between thefirst wheel 103 an thesecond wheel 104. Accordingly, even though thefirst wheel 103 and thesecond wheel 104 are collinearly disposed, the caster 1 can be made compact in its entirety. - Further, by making the first wheel 103 a minimum size, it is possible to improve the gap climbing performance because the approach angle alpha can be made larger. It is also possible to make the change of direction easy because a ground contact section is one place as the characteristics of the caster and the ground contact width of the ground contact section can be made narrower because of the above reason.
-
Reference numeral 108 is an axle for supporting thesecond wheel 104. Awraparound member 105 is wrapped around thefirst wheel 103 and thesecond wheel 104. Thewraparound member 105 is almost the same as in the foregoing examples, but the number of wheel guide grooves formed on each piece is limited to one, as described later. -
FIG. 46 shows a thirteenth embodiment. This embodiment is a variation of the previous embodiment (seeFIGS. 43-45 ) in which a spring suspension structure is adopted. More specifically, one end of asuspension arm 107 is swingably supported by anaxle 107 a on a mountingarm 102 and the other end thereof is connected to asecond wheel 104 by asuspension spring 109. - The position of the
axle 108 for supporting thesecond wheel 104 is adjustable by anadjustment mechanism 123 provided at the end of thesuspension arm 107. Tension of awraparound member 105 can be adjusted by thisadjustment mechanism 123. In this manner, impact from the other side can be absorbed by the suspension. -
FIGS. 47 and 48 show a fourteenth embodiment. This embodiment is a variation of the sixth embodiment (seeFIGS. 19-21 ).FIG. 47 is a perspective view of apiece 125 andFIG. 48 is a cross-sectional view thereof. In these figures, thepiece 125 is provided in such a manner that atire section 126 and awheel guide section 127 are disposed above and below a connectingsection 129 in the same manner as above. -
Guide walls 130 of thewheel guide section 127 are made symmetric in the front and rear direction (i.e., the right and left of the figure) and the intermediate section of thewheel guide section 127 in the width direction is a singlewheel guide groove 131 formed of a cut out depression sandwiched between the right andleft guide walls 130. Thiswheel guide groove 131 is provided for thepiece 125 used in the examples shown inFIGS. 47 and 48 , wherein only oneguide groove 131 is formed because only onefirst wheel 103 is used in the width direction (i.e., the direction of the axis of rotation). This applies to each of the following examples. - A
protrusion 143 projecting from one side of the connectingsection 129 is formed to have the same width as thewheel guide groove 131 and adapted to fit between theguide walls 130 of theadjacent piece 125. Theprotrusion 143 is formed with a protrusion through-hole 144. Thewheel guide section 127 is provided with adepression 145 for receiving aprotrusion 143 of theadjacent piece 125 which enters from the opposite side of theprotrusion 143 of the connectingsection 129. Thedepression 145 opens toward thewheel guide groove 131. The intermediate section of the connectingsection 129 in the front and rear direction is also formed with a piece through-hole 146 passing through thedepression 145 in the width direction. - The
protrusion 143 of onepiece 125 is fitted into thewheel guide groove 131 of theadjacent piece 125 and then inserted within thedepression 145. Since the protrusion through-hole 144 corresponds to the piece through-hole 146 of theadjacent piece 125, a connectingshaft 149 is inserted there for coupling. In this manner, thepiece 125 can be connected with a single connectingshaft 149. Further, a guideinclined surface 135 of theguide wall 130 can be symmetrically provided back and forth (i.e., the rotational direction of the wrap-around member is referred to as “front”). - A fifteenth embodiment is shown in
FIGS. 49 through 53 . In this embodiment, theadjacent pieces 125 are connected using ajoint piece 181 which is a separate body from thepiece 125.FIG. 49 is a view showing the connecting condition of thepiece 125,FIG. 50 is a perspective view showing a connecting method, andFIG. 51 is a perspective view of thejoint piece 181.FIG. 52 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 52-52 ofFIG. 49 andFIG. 53 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 53-53 ofFIG. 52 . - In these figures, the
wheel guide section 127 of thepiece 125 is formed of a substantially double housing provided with awheel guide groove 131 of a cut out depression formed between a pair ofguide walls 130. Thejoint piece 181 is fitted within thewheel guide groove 131 and afirst pipe section 182 of thejoint piece 181 is fitted into asecond pipe section 183 of the adjacentjoint piece 181, wherein thepiece 125, and the adjacentjoint pieces shaft 149 inserted from the piece through-hole 146 formed on thecross section 129. The end of the connectingshaft 149 is secured by a suitable means such as ascrew 180. Caulking, circlip or the like are also available as a simple securing method. - The
joint piece 181 can be easily formed from a metal plate by press molding as shown inFIG. 51 . The central section of one end of aplate section 184 is rolled in a pipe shape to form afirst pipe section 182, while on the other side, a pair ofsecond pipe sections 183 is formed at acertain gap 185 on each end of theplate section 184 in the width direction to sandwich thefirst pipe section 182 therebetween. Formed between the pair ofsecond pipe sections 183 of theplate section 184 is anotch 186 for communicating with thegap 185 which rotatably support thefirst pipe section 182 of the otherjoint piece 181 fitted. -
FIG. 54 shows a variation of thejoint piece 181 in which thefirst pipe section 182 and thesecond pipe section 183 are integrally formed from metal or resin material. With this formation, the joint piece can be made simpler. -
FIG. 55 shows another variation of thejoint piece 181 in which many first andsecond pipe sections - A sixteenth embodiment is shown in
FIGS. 56 through 58 . This is a variation of the seventh embodiment (seeFIGS. 22 and 23 ).FIG. 56 is a view showing the coupling condition andFIG. 57 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 57-57 ofFIG. 56 .FIG. 58 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 58-58 ofFIG. 57 . - In this example, connecting the
piece 125 using a connectingplate 148 is the same as above. However, a connectinghole 187 of one connectingplate 148 and a connectinghole 188 of the other connectingplate 148, of the adjacent connectingplates 148 in the front and rear direction, of a pair of connectingholes plate 148, are superposed, then superposed on a single through-hole 146 formed on the center of thepiece 125 in the front and rear direction, wherein the pair of adjacent connectingplates piece 125 are connected by a single connectingshaft 149. In this manner, one each of through-hole 146 and connectingshaft 149 need only to be provided for onepiece 125. - It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may be varied in many ways. For example, if the contacting
section 36 inFIG. 8 etc. is provided not only to make the front and rear side thereof parallel, but also make it slightly open to the outer circumferential direction, it is possible to control warping from the obtuse condition slightly before straightening. On the contrary, if the contactingsection 36 is made to slightly taper, it is possible to prevent further warping in the slightly warped condition. In other words, the warp prevention in the present invention does not always mean making part of the wraparound member 5 a straight condition parallel to the common tangent C2, but it is possible to freely adjust the extent of warping to be controlled within some permissible range. - It is desirable that such a permissible range of warping be less than 5 percent of the length of the outward inflexible area A in which the amount of depression of the wrap-around
member 5 can be regarded as the length of the common tangent section C2. This is a range of permissible bending of the wrap-aroundmember 5 during climbing the gap. If such a range is set, it is possible to scarcely produce an effect of depression in gap climbing. If the range is larger than 5 percent, the climbing performance drastically deteriorates. The preferred permissible range is less than 3 percent and if such a range is set, it is possible to maintain part of the wrap-aroundmember 5 contacting the gap in a substantially straight condition including the tolerance. - Further, the length of the outward inflexible area A varies with the center distance between the two
axles second wheel 4 adding the radius of theaxle 6, theaxle 6 is assumed to be in non-contact with thesecond wheel 4 and to approach theaxle 8 wherever possible. In this manner, since the length of the outward inflexible area A becomes shortest, it is possible to reduce a change of diameter due to bending of the imaginary wheel W to as small as possible. - The present invention can also be applied for various purposes. It can be used for almost all casters known in the market, for example, the front wheels of a wheelchair, furniture such as a table, a wheeled stretcher, a shopping cart, and wheels such as a light car including a handcart. Further, as shown by an imaginary (virtual) line in
FIG. 1 , if a motor M is provided within the side surface of the second wheel, it is also possible to provide a self-propelled device of a wheel motor type.
Claims (14)
1. A caster having first and second wheels (3, 4; 103, 104) disposed forward and back and an endless wrap-around member (5) wrapped around the first and second wheels (3, 4; 103, 104),
wherein the wraparound member (5) consists of a plurality of pieces (25; 125) continuous in the circumferential direction, each piece (25; 125) being provided with an outer peripheral section (26; 40) and an inner peripheral section (27; 30) which are moveable independent of the adjacent pieces (25; 125) and permit the wraparound member (5) to bend along the first and second wheels (3, 4; 103, 104), and the outer peripheral section (26; 40) is adapted to contact the outer peripheral sections (26; 40) of the adjacent pieces (25; 125) when the wrap-around member (5) is pushed inside the surface of rotation by an external force, thereby preventing the wrap-around member (5) from being depressed inside the surface of rotation in excess of a predetermined amount,
wherein a joint piece (43 a, b; 181) is provided with pipe sections (44 a, b; 182, 183) on either end of the piece (25; 125) in the front and rear direction is provided and each pipe section is fitted into each depression formed on the pieces (25; 125) which are adjacent forward and back, thereby connecting each piece (25; 125) to the pipe sections by a single connecting shaft (47; 149).
2. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein when the outer peripheral section is provided in such a manner that the outer peripheral sections of the adjacent pieces contact each other, when they are close on a common tangent of the first and second wheels (3, 4; 103, 104).
3. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein each piece (25) is independently formed and connected to the others by a connecting member (33, 34) in a circular shape.
4. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein the piece (25) is provided with a tire section (26) on the outer peripheral side and a wheel guide section (27) into which the outer peripheral sections of the first and second wheels (3, 4; 103, 104) are fitted.
5. The caster according to claim 4 , wherein the tire section (26) and the wheel guide section (27) are respectively formed as separate bodies.
6. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second wheels (3, 4) overlap each other when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the surface of rotation.
7. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second wheels have different diameters and a plurality of wheels (103) with a smaller diameter is provided in the direction of the axis of rotation.
8. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein the wrap-around member (5) is provided with a tire section (50) on the outer peripheral side and a wheel guide section (27) on the inner peripheral side, the tire section (50) is formed of a continuous endless belt, and the wheel guide section (27) is provided to engage each outer peripheral section of the first and second wheels (3, 4; 103, 104) and is combined with the tire section (50) to form the piece (25).
9. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein the wrap-around member (5) is provided with a tire section (77) on the outer peripheral side and a wheel guide section (70) on the inner peripheral side, the wheel guide section (70) being provided to engage each outer peripheral section of the first and second wheels (3, 4; 103, 104) and formed of a continuous endless belt, and the piece (25) is formed by the tire section (77) and the wheel guide section (70).
10. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein the wraparound member (5) is formed of a single endless belt in its entirety and slits (68) cut in from the outer peripheral side at the same intervals in the longitudinal direction and grooves (66), wider than each slit (68), formed from the inner peripheral side at the same intervals in the longitudinal direction form the piece (25).
11. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein the first wheel (103) is provided in such a manner that the diameter is ⅕ or less of that of the second wheel (104) and its thickness is substantially the same as that of the second wheel (104), wherein the first wheel (103) is disposed close to the outer periphery of the second wheel (104) so that the first and second wheels are disposed on the same straight line when viewed from the direction of each thickness.
12. The caster according to claim 11 , wherein a plurality of first wheels (103) is provided along the outer periphery of the second wheel (104).
13. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein each piece is provided with a protrusion (143) on one side of the piece (125) in the front and rear direction and a depression (145) on the other side thereof, wherein the protrusion (143) of one piece is inserted into a depression (145) of the other piece which is adjacent forward and back, thereby connecting a wall section (130) surrounding the depression (145) to the protrusion by the single connecting shaft (149).
14. The caster according to claim 1 , wherein a connecting plate (148) having a pair of connecting holes (187; 188) is provided, each connecting hole (187; 188) being caused to correspond to a through-hole (146) formed on the central section of the adjacent piece (125) in the front and rear direction, and a connecting shaft (149) is inserted into these connecting holes (187; 188) and through-hole (146), whereby each piece (125) is connected by such a single connecting shaft (149).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/715,370 US8046871B2 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2010-03-01 | Caster |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2004/010932 WO2006011229A1 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2004-07-30 | Caster |
US57661006A | 2006-04-21 | 2006-04-21 | |
US12/715,370 US8046871B2 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2010-03-01 | Caster |
Related Parent Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2004/010932 Division WO2006011229A1 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2004-07-30 | Caster |
US10/576,610 Division US20070056140A1 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2004-07-30 | Caster |
US57661006A Division | 2004-07-30 | 2006-04-21 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100162520A1 true US20100162520A1 (en) | 2010-07-01 |
US8046871B2 US8046871B2 (en) | 2011-11-01 |
Family
ID=35785989
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/576,610 Abandoned US20070056140A1 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2004-07-30 | Caster |
US12/715,370 Expired - Fee Related US8046871B2 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2010-03-01 | Caster |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/576,610 Abandoned US20070056140A1 (en) | 2004-07-30 | 2004-07-30 | Caster |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20070056140A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1772291B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE602004025152D1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2006011229A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8539640B1 (en) | 2012-06-08 | 2013-09-24 | Herbert A. Waggener | Caster wheel lift and brake assembly |
US8650710B1 (en) | 2012-12-15 | 2014-02-18 | Herbert A. Waggener | Caster wheel lift and brake assembly |
US10118440B1 (en) * | 2017-06-12 | 2018-11-06 | Colson Caster Group, Llc | Suspension caster with brake lever and wheel fork and yoke portion having common pivot axis |
US10384531B2 (en) * | 2016-06-04 | 2019-08-20 | Chun-Hsiang Yang | Universal wheel |
US10464373B1 (en) | 2017-06-26 | 2019-11-05 | Herbert A Waggener | Caster wheel lift and brake assembly |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2930230B1 (en) * | 2008-04-22 | 2010-10-08 | Jean Claude Arbogast | UNITARY RUNNING TRAIN AND ROLLING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING. |
US20100251514A1 (en) * | 2009-04-01 | 2010-10-07 | Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | Caster |
US8910951B2 (en) | 2010-03-21 | 2014-12-16 | Smarte Carte, Inc. | Caster wheel arrangements |
CH707821A2 (en) * | 2013-03-26 | 2014-09-30 | Wheelblades Gmbh | Adapters and system for steering funds to wheelchairs. |
KR102318656B1 (en) * | 2015-01-05 | 2021-10-28 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Apparatus for supporting display panel |
US9956822B1 (en) * | 2016-12-22 | 2018-05-01 | Olympia International, Inc. | Wheel assembly for luggage |
US11007102B2 (en) | 2017-08-22 | 2021-05-18 | Stryker Corporation | Patient transport system |
CA3085026A1 (en) | 2019-07-31 | 2021-01-31 | Stryker Corporation | Patient support apparatus with frame guard |
KR20210026314A (en) * | 2019-08-29 | 2021-03-10 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Caster device, robot having the same, and robot driving method |
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8539640B1 (en) | 2012-06-08 | 2013-09-24 | Herbert A. Waggener | Caster wheel lift and brake assembly |
US8650710B1 (en) | 2012-12-15 | 2014-02-18 | Herbert A. Waggener | Caster wheel lift and brake assembly |
US10384531B2 (en) * | 2016-06-04 | 2019-08-20 | Chun-Hsiang Yang | Universal wheel |
US10118440B1 (en) * | 2017-06-12 | 2018-11-06 | Colson Caster Group, Llc | Suspension caster with brake lever and wheel fork and yoke portion having common pivot axis |
US10464373B1 (en) | 2017-06-26 | 2019-11-05 | Herbert A Waggener | Caster wheel lift and brake assembly |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1772291A4 (en) | 2008-07-02 |
EP1772291A1 (en) | 2007-04-11 |
DE602004025152D1 (en) | 2010-03-04 |
WO2006011229A1 (en) | 2006-02-02 |
US8046871B2 (en) | 2011-11-01 |
US20070056140A1 (en) | 2007-03-15 |
EP1772291B1 (en) | 2010-01-13 |
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